danielscissorhands:Up until I read the article, I falsely assumed that the black death plague had been annihilated, but, apparently not.

Yersinia pestis

is endemic to (naturally found in) several areas around the world. It's a known hazard to rodent researchers in the south western US because it can infect many more mammals than rats. Flea transmission is the most well described vector, but it's a blood borne pathogen, exposure of infected blood to an open wound could also transmit it.

It's usually treatable if detected early, but it's difficult past a certain point because the bacterium has multiple methods of shutting down the victim's immune response. More info.

Alkony:danielscissorhands: Up until I read the article, I falsely assumed that the black death plague had been annihilated, but, apparently not.

Yersinia pestis is endemic to (naturally found in) several areas around the world. It's a known hazard to rodent researchers in the south western US because it can infect many more mammals than rats. Flea transmission is the most well described vector, but it's a blood borne pathogen, exposure of infected blood to an open wound could also transmit it.

It's usually treatable if detected early, but it's difficult past a certain point because the bacterium has multiple methods of shutting down the victim's immune response. More info.

Does anyone know why it is endemic in certain parts of the world, such as yours, and yet is unheard of in other parts, such as mine (temperate east coast Australia, with a reasonably similar climate to California)?

steerforth:Alkony: danielscissorhands: Up until I read the article, I falsely assumed that the black death plague had been annihilated, but, apparently not.

Yersinia pestis is endemic to (naturally found in) several areas around the world. It's a known hazard to rodent researchers in the south western US because it can infect many more mammals than rats. Flea transmission is the most well described vector, but it's a blood borne pathogen, exposure of infected blood to an open wound could also transmit it.

It's usually treatable if detected early, but it's difficult past a certain point because the bacterium has multiple methods of shutting down the victim's immune response. More info.

Does anyone know why it is endemic in certain parts of the world, such as yours, and yet is unheard of in other parts, such as mine (temperate east coast Australia, with a reasonably similar climate to California)?

MAYORBOB:steerforth: Alkony: danielscissorhands: Up until I read the article, I falsely assumed that the black death plague had been annihilated, but, apparently not.

Yersinia pestis is endemic to (naturally found in) several areas around the world. It's a known hazard to rodent researchers in the south western US because it can infect many more mammals than rats. Flea transmission is the most well described vector, but it's a blood borne pathogen, exposure of infected blood to an open wound could also transmit it.

It's usually treatable if detected early, but it's difficult past a certain point because the bacterium has multiple methods of shutting down the victim's immune response. More info.

Does anyone know why it is endemic in certain parts of the world, such as yours, and yet is unheard of in other parts, such as mine (temperate east coast Australia, with a reasonably similar climate to California)?

Because God already blessed Australia with enough deadly critters.

True, and we are currently leading the world in the development of some fabulous new viral pathogens, but you can't beat a good old-fashioned bacterial menace to feel as if your country has really made a mark on the world.

steerforth:Alkony: danielscissorhands: Up until I read the article, I falsely assumed that the black death plague had been annihilated, but, apparently not.

Yersinia pestis is endemic to (naturally found in) several areas around the world. It's a known hazard to rodent researchers in the south western US because it can infect many more mammals than rats. Flea transmission is the most well described vector, but it's a blood borne pathogen, exposure of infected blood to an open wound could also transmit it.

It's usually treatable if detected early, but it's difficult past a certain point because the bacterium has multiple methods of shutting down the victim's immune response. More info.

Does anyone know why it is endemic in certain parts of the world, such as yours, and yet is unheard of in other parts, such as mine (temperate east coast Australia, with a reasonably similar climate to California)?

Be careful saying that, you may end up with Californians.

Now that I have said it, say it again! We don't want them!

It probably is due to other fleas out competing the ones we have if they arrive there. Or, it just hasn't happened yet. I hear you guys are short on wild stuff that could kill you, want me to pack up a few and send em?

jafiwam:steerforth: Alkony: danielscissorhands: Up until I read the article, I falsely assumed that the black death plague had been annihilated, but, apparently not.

Yersinia pestis is endemic to (naturally found in) several areas around the world. It's a known hazard to rodent researchers in the south western US because it can infect many more mammals than rats. Flea transmission is the most well described vector, but it's a blood borne pathogen, exposure of infected blood to an open wound could also transmit it.

It's usually treatable if detected early, but it's difficult past a certain point because the bacterium has multiple methods of shutting down the victim's immune response. More info.

Does anyone know why it is endemic in certain parts of the world, such as yours, and yet is unheard of in other parts, such as mine (temperate east coast Australia, with a reasonably similar climate to California)?

Be careful saying that, you may end up with Californians.

Now that I have said it, say it again! We don't want them!

It probably is due to other fleas out competing the ones we have if they arrive there. Or, it just hasn't happened yet. I hear you guys are short on wild stuff that could kill you, want me to pack up a few and send em?

Californians can be no worse than Queenslanders so that's not a problem. I suspect that you are correct that other naughties are out-competing yersinias. Our fleas have other shiat to deal with.

steerforth:jafiwam: steerforth: Alkony: danielscissorhands: Up until I read the article, I falsely assumed that the black death plague had been annihilated, but, apparently not.

Yersinia pestis is endemic to (naturally found in) several areas around the world. It's a known hazard to rodent researchers in the south western US because it can infect many more mammals than rats. Flea transmission is the most well described vector, but it's a blood borne pathogen, exposure of infected blood to an open wound could also transmit it.

It's usually treatable if detected early, but it's difficult past a certain point because the bacterium has multiple methods of shutting down the victim's immune response. More info.

Does anyone know why it is endemic in certain parts of the world, such as yours, and yet is unheard of in other parts, such as mine (temperate east coast Australia, with a reasonably similar climate to California)?

Be careful saying that, you may end up with Californians.

Now that I have said it, say it again! We don't want them!

It probably is due to other fleas out competing the ones we have if they arrive there. Or, it just hasn't happened yet. I hear you guys are short on wild stuff that could kill you, want me to pack up a few and send em?

Californians can be no worse than Queenslanders so that's not a problem. I suspect that you are correct that other naughties are out-competing yersinias. Our fleas have other shiat to deal with.

It could be that the local mammal species don't have a high enough rate of resistance to build up a local reservoir of Y. pestis. One reason rats and rat-fleas are a common vector is that the rats don't die from the disease as much. Not all rodentia have this advantage, so getting bitten by a flea with Y. pestis just kills them rather than letting them pass it on to humans later.

Also, it seems to do somewhat better in dryer climates than the east coast of Australia has. The county FTFA is in central Oregon, which is high plains, rather than the temperate rain forest a lot of people thing of for Oregon. Most of the endemic areas in the US are plains of one type or another. From my knowledge (admittedly sparse) of Australian climates, there isn't a lot of area that fits that category.